Wellington School, Somerset
| Wellington School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| , , TA21 8NT England | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public School |
| Motto | Nisi Dominus Frustra (The opening of Psalm 127: If God Be Not With Us, Our Labour is in Vain) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Church of England |
| Established | 1837 |
| Head Master | Mr M.S. Reader, M.A. (Oxon), MPhil, MBA |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Enrollment | c.750 |
| Colour(s) | Navy & Light Blue |
| Former pupils | Old Wellingtonians |
| Website | http://www.wellington-school.org.uk/ |
Wellington School, is a co-educational public school in Wellington, Somerset, England catering for both boarders and day pupils. There are currently 750 pupils on roll including 200 students in the sixth form.
History
Wellington is an English public school situated in the centre of the small town of Wellington. It was founded in 1837[1] as an all boys school by Benjamin Frost (Headmaster 1837–1848), a native of Culmstock and from a family of Dissenters. It was later purchased and run by Frost's wife and William Corner (Headmaster 1848–1879). The school chapel was built in 1928.
A solitary day girl was allowed to join the Sixth Form in 1972 and the following year Wellington became co-educational. The school's arms consist of one quarter of the Duke of Wellington's arms, the dragons represent the County of Somerset and the open book represents learning.
The school opened a new junior school in 2000, having previously only catered for pupils aged 10 and over. In 2003 the Princess Royal opened the Princess Royal Sports Complex, a £2.65 million indoor sports facility.[2] They are currently raising funds for a performing arts centre.[3]
Since September 2007, there have been no lessons on a Saturday. This has been replaced with activities that incorporate music, drama and sport as well as compulsory activities for the boarders.
In December 2007, the school commissioned its new multi-purpose examination hall and English Department adjacent to its Sports Centre.[4] The facility also offers the potential as a functions room.
Sports
Sport plays a major part of life at Wellington. The school has rugby pitches, cricket squares, football pitches, an all-weather pitch, all-weather training areas, tennis courts, squash courts, climbing wall and an indoor swimming pool. In the Lent term all male pupils are encouraged to participate in rugby.
Football is a new sport at Wellington, which was introduced in the 2003 school year.
Hockey is the most prestigious sport at Wellington. Many students have gone on to represent the school in county and England hockey, national athletics, county and England fencing and county rugby.[5]
Autumn: rugby union, hockey.
Spring: hockey, netball, cross-country, football
Summer: cricket, tennis, athletics, swimming, rounders.
Other minor sports: badminton, basketball, fencing, horse riding, squash, golf. Wellington's Fives court, constructed in 1905, was converted in 1959 into a squash court.
Combined Cadet Force
The school has its own marching band and active Combined Cadet Force, founded in 1901. The Combined Cadet Force is open to senior school pupils, and boasts upwards of 170 cadets across the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force sections.
The cadets learn military based skills such as drill, weapons handling, map and compass, battlecraft, climbing, abseiling and leadership development. There are various CCF camps, military training weekends and cadet competitions each year, during which the cadets go on field manoeuvres in order to apply the skills they have learned in a practical situation.[6] Wellington School is unique in having three field exercises a year, each lasting three days and two nights. This challenges the cadets. There is a commissioned officer who is a full time member of staff at Wellington School who runs the CCF. He is assisted by an experienced warrant officer. The cadets are required to present themselves for inspection by the masters in charge of each section on a weekly basis.
Staff
Headmaster Mr. M.S. Reader, M.A. (Oxon), MPhil, MBA
Deputy Head Mr. R.S. Page, M.A., PGCE
Director of Studies Dr. P.M. Owen, M.A., PhD
Head of Lower School Mr. P.M. Pearce, B.A., Cert Ed
Notable alumni
- Jeffrey Archer, Author, politician and convicted fraudster who, it is alleged, falsely claimed as a young man that he had attended Wellington College
- Lieutenant-General Sir Freddie Viggers, KCB CMG MBE DL, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain and Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Lords. Senior official responsible for the day to day management of the House of Lords.
- Keith Floyd, Food critic
- Frank Gilbert BBC broadcaster and administrator
- David Suchet, Actor known for playing Hercule Poirot;
- Simon Singh, Science author
- Tom Singh, founder of the New Look chain of stores;
See also
References
- ^ "Welcome to Wellington School". Wellington School. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "Princess Royal Sports Complex". Wellington School Trading Ltd. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "Wellington School Music Department". Taunton Association of Performing Arts. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "Wellington School". Hobsons Boarding School Guide. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "Fencing and hockey honours for Wellington School students". Somerset County Gazette. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "Wellington Army Cadet Force". Wellington Army Cadet Force. Retrieved 2009-07-06.